Jadavpur University (JU), one of the key educational institutions in West Bengal, experienced a surge of protests on Saturday, following the visit of State Education Minister Bratya Basu. The event descended into chaos, resulting in confrontations between students and police, and even injuries to the minister.

The protests were sparked during Basu’s attendance at the Annual General Meeting of the West Bengal College and University Professors Association (WBCUPA), where leftist student groups assembled to demand the immediate organisation of Student Union Elections in the state.

The CPI(M)-affiliated Students Federation of India (SFI) has demanded the arrest of Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu for allegedly injuring students inside the University campus in Kolkata on Saturday.

What happened at Jadavpur University (JU)?

The circumstances escalated when Basu was encircled by a large crowd of protesting students as he attempted to exit the campus. The students, mostly linked to the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), began chanting slogans against the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and calling for the reinstatement of democratic student body elections. As the situation intensified, a group of students reportedly surrounded the minister’s vehicle, creating a disturbance.

Amid the ensuing turmoil, the windscreen of Basu’s car was damaged, and he sustained injuries while seated inside. He was swiftly taken to a hospital for treatment and later discharged. In remarks to the media, Basu condemned the incident and expressed his readiness to engage in discussions with the protesting students. “I was willing to speak with them. The SFI had given me their memorandum, and I had committed to discussing it with five representatives in the presence of the Vice Chancellor. Yet, it appeared they were not open to a productive conversation,” Basu stated.

In contrast, the protesting students, including those from the SFI, provided a different narrative. They alleged that the Minister’s car tried to force its way through the crowd, injuring a first-year student who needed hospitalization. SFI leader Kaushiki Bhattacharya asserted, “We did not initiate violence. It was the TMCP (Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad) members who entered the campus and provoked the conflict.”

One person arrested

The unrest persisted even after Basu’s departure from the campus. In an unexpected development, the office of the Left-leaning teachers’ association, a vocal critic of the state government, was set ablaze shortly after the minister left. The police have filed seven FIRs, including two suo-motu cases, on various charges such as assault, damaging public property, and snatching.

Currently, one individual has been arrested in connection with the arson. The suspect, Mohammad Sahil Ali, 25, resides in Mohammad Bazar in Birbhum and is currently renting an apartment in Bijoygarh, Kolkata. Ali has been placed in police custody until March 12.

SFI calls for students’ strike

In response to the violence and police actions, the SFI has called for a statewide students’ strike. This strike is intended to protest the attacks on students and what they label as “unprovoked violence” by pro-TMC groups. Meanwhile, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma held a press briefing, announcing that with the Higher Secondary Examinations (Class 12 board exams) scheduled to start on Monday, the police would not permit any protests or strikes that could disrupt the exam process.

In a subsequent audio message, the SFI clarified that while they would maintain their protests on the university grounds, they would ensure that there would be no disruptions around exam venues. The group emphasized that their protests were not intended to interfere with the exam schedule but were focused solely on expressing their discontent with the government’s position on student union elections.

Incident ignites political debate

This incident has ignited significant political debate, with opposition parties accusing the state government of fostering a climate of fear and suppression on college campuses. University officials have also appealed for calm, warning that ongoing violence could damage the institution’s reputation and jeopardize student safety.

As tensions continue to simmer at Jadavpur University, both students and political leaders are closely monitoring the situation for further developments in the days ahead. With police investigations underway and student unions determined to persist with their protests, the climate remains unstable, and the calls for democratic reforms in student politics show no signs of subsiding.